琵

pí

比 + 玨

Definitions

pí see 琵琶, pipa lute

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 玨 represents the meaning and 比 represents the sound.

Semantic: 玨 Phonetic: 比

About

The character 琵 (pí) is a phono-semantic compound. Its top portion features two jade radicals 王, originally representing a pair of jades, which suggest the plucking of strings. The lower component 比 (bǐ) provides the phonetic element. This character is linguistically bound to its partner 琶 (pá), forming the compound 琵琶 (pipa), the name of a traditional four-stringed Chinese lute. The etymology links directly to the instrument's playing technique: the jade components symbolize both the sound of the strings and the forward-plucking motion of the fingers. As a bound morpheme within this instrument's name, 琵 carries no independent meaning and is never used alone in standard writing.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

她会弹琵琶。

Tā huì tán pípa.

She can play the pipa.

我昨天学了琵琶。

Wǒ zuótiān xuéle pípa.

I learned the pipa yesterday.

他在学校练习琵琶。

Tā zài xuéxiào liànxí pípa.

He practices pipa at school.

这把琵琶的声音很优美。

Zhè bǎ pípa de shēngyīn hěn yōuměi.

The sound of this pipa is very beautiful.

学习琵琶需要耐心和時間。

Xuéxí pípa xūyào nàixīn hé shíjiān.

Learning pipa requires patience and time.

如果你喜欢音乐，可以试试弹琵琶。

Rúguǒ nǐ xǐhuān yīnyuè, kěyǐ shìshi tán pípa.

If you like music, you can try playing the pipa.

琵琶是中国传统乐器中的重要代表。

Pípa shì Zhōngguó chuántǒng yuèqì zhōng de zhòngyào dàibiǎo.

The pipa is an important representative in Chinese traditional musical instruments.

那位音乐家演奏的琵琶曲目赢得了观众的热烈掌声。

Nà wèi yīnyuèjiā yǎnzòu de pípa qǔmù yíngdéle guānzhòng de rèliè zhǎngshēng.

The pipa piece performed by that musician won the audience's warm applause.

Related Characters

Component: 比

Component: 玨

琵